'Till the day they die': Long-time royal photographer's bombshell prediction about Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's relationship... as the Duke of York faces fresh scandal
Edwards, who has worked with the Royal Family for over 40 years, told The Sun on Sunday that Fergie is his "favourite royal" and opened up about his memories of the Yorks' long and complicated relationship.
He recalled the first time the "extroverted redhead" appeared on the royal scene in 1985, after being introduced to Prince Andrew by her friend, the late Princess Diana.
The couple quickly became engaged and married in 1986, but eventually separated and divorced a decade later in 1996.
Still, Edwards believes nothing will break the connection between the Duke and Duchess of York, who share daughters Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 35.
"They're still very close and will be until the day they die," he said.
Fergie echoed similar sentiments in a December interview with The Times, declaring: "I won't let Andrew down. He supports me as much as I support him. He's supported me through thick and thin, not just marriage or divorce."
The ex-couple's bond has indeed remained unusually strong, and so has the public scrutiny, particularly surrounding the ex-working royal and his ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The latest round of controversy has erupted ahead of the release of royal author Andrew Lownie's new book 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York', due out on August 14.
The book reportedly explores the 65-year-old Duke's sexual exploits and alleges that Andrew's relationship with Epstein was even more perilous than the public realises.
According to The Times, Epstein is said to have sold Andrew's "most intimate secrets" to foreign intelligence agencies.
The book also claims the disgraced financier was an "agent of influence" for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The Prince was a useful idiot who gave him respectability, access to political leaders and business opportunities. He found him easy to exploit," Lownie said.
These allegations come hot on the heels of Andrew's exposed ties to alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, who reportedly saw him as "a valuable communication channel" according to documents released by the UK's Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC).
The pair still live together at Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate, a situation many assumed would end under King Charles' reign, as reports claimed the King wanted them to vacate the sprawling property.
But Edwards believes that's also unlikely.
"One thing I know about the King is that he is a kind man who was never going to kick his brother and Fergie out of their home, Royal Lodge at Windsor," he said.
"He's not that sort of person."
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